System for laying boards



L. F. URBAIN SYSTEM FOR LAYING BOARDS May 10, 1938.

Filed July 16, 1934 w g U W M W w M 7 m V\ Z w M E m 1 7 k 5 W gPatented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention has to 'do with joining boards or other articles one toanother in systematic order.

The system requires a base upon or in which 5 channel members aredisposed. Within such channels are clips. The clips, when in use, areheld against movement longitudinally of the channel by a frictionalinterlock therewith. A part of each clip projects from the channel.

10 The projecting part of the clip is disposedbetween the contiguousedges of boards or the like that are resting upon the channels. Eachclip may have parts interlocking with one or both of the boards or otherarticles between which it is 15 disposed. Boards or other articles to beheld by the clips are generally arranged across the channels.

The objects of the invention include, among others, the following:

20 New and improved apparatus for supporting and holding floor boards orthe like.

A unique combination of clip and channel for securing boards or othermembers in assembly.

A clip for use with a channel and which will 25 secure conventionaltongue and grooved flooring boards and other conventional types ofboards in contiguous relation.

An improved board holding clip.

An improved interlock between a holding clip,

30 a channel and boards resting upon the channel.

A unique structure for a clip for use between boards or other membersand which may not be upset in the channel.

These objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, areobtained by the unique construction, improved combination, and novelarrangement of the several elements which constitute the invention,several forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing,hereby 40 made a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a clip suited for use with floor boards,and a channel therefor, the floor boards being removed;

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 45 2-2 of Figure 1 lookingin the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of contiguous sections of two tongueand groove floor boards and illustrating the manner in which a clip maybe secured to the first of such boards;

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating two boards in contiguity;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a clip member, the 55 channel shown therewithbeing sectioned to illustrate exaggeratedly the interlock between it andthe clip;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a clip for use with clapboards or thelike; and Figure '7 is a transverse section of parts of two boards heldtogether by the cliplllustrated in Figure 6.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in thedrawing and in the following description. 10

The form of the invention for use with floor boards will be describedfirst. A supporting base is required. This may comprise any wood,concrete or other sub-floor upon which clip channels may be laid andsecured. The base may be rafters or joists. It may be sheet metal orother material in which clip channels are preformed or otherwiseprovided. A concrete base with clip channels embedded therein also maybe employed.

The devices, herein described for use with floor boards entail theemployment of a channel member or a member having a channel therein, aclip frictionally secured in the channel, and boards at each side of theclip and resting on the channel, one of the boards, at least, being heldin position by the clip.

The channel I0 illustrated comprises sheet material that may be rolledor otherwise treated to provide a bottom ll, generally flat from edge toedge, upright sides l2, and inturned flanges I3 at the tops of the sidesl2.

Channels ID are accurately formed. They are of uniform width, and theheight beneath the flanges I3 is to a definite gauge.

At spaced intervals in the channel are apertures H to receive screws orbolts or any other suitable fastening means which extend through thematerial of the bottom H of the channel. The channels l0 may be made inany desirable length. They may be made economically by a 40 number ofconventional shop methods.

The clips l5 comprise generally fiat blanks of metal cut and folded toprovide a lower section 16,

a web IT, a hook section l8, and feet I 9.

The lower section i6 generally is the widest part of the clip. From edgeto edge, the lower section is slightly wider than from the interior faceof one side l2 to the interior face ofthe other side l2 of the channel.The width of the bottom section iii of the clip 15 is such that the clipmay not be arranged transversely of the channel 10 withoutbeing'forcibly twisted. That twisting stress normally is greater thanany which the fingers may exert upon the clip. Usually the bottom marginof the clip from edge to edge, is straight or is in a straight line.This facilitates a snug fit in the channel. The upper corners of thelower section ii of the clip are preferably rounded, as shown, tofacilitate the insertion of the clip into a channel and to prevent unduedistortion of the clip in the channel when twisted to a positionstraight thereacross. I On the under side of the bottom section ii ofthe clip l5 are feet i9. Two feet l9 are shown, one pointing forwardlyand the other rearwardly. The foremost and rearmost outer margins of thefeet I9 are preferably rounded, as shown, to prevent undue force beingrequired to insert the clip into the channel. The rounded edges allowfree turning of the clip to a limited extent in the channel preliminaryto running the clip forwardly against a board. The feet l9 prevent theclip from tilting in the channel after insertion thereinto. A clip withfeet l9 as shown, cannot fail over during the preliminary settingthereof or when being driven home against a board.

More than two feet 19 may be used. One foot completely or partly acrossthe channel is effective. Two feet appear to have advantages over one ora greater number of feet. If oppositely disposed, the feet preventtilting in either direction. The height of section iii of the clip issuch that it fits snugly under the flanges i3 so that when the sectionIt is set in a channel with its ends under flanges l3, the clip cannotrise sufliciently in the channel to turn over.

Above the lower section l6 of the clip is a web I1. As shown, the web isnot as wide as the space between the opposed inturned edges of flangesi3 of the channel member II]. If a clip is to be used in a magazinedevice for feeding and laying, the web IT may be bounded at its sidemargins by tabs generally rectangular'in shape and like thoseillustrated in the earlier pending application of said Leon F. Urbain,Serial No. 609,689, entitled Flooring, and filed May 6, 1932.

The web I! of the clip I5 is positioned between the lower vertical edgesof contiguous boards. At the top of the web, there is a holding part I8or hook which comprises the material of the web after a central V-shapedsection is removed, the holding part being bent into a U, the open sideof the U being seated upon the tongue of a board.

By splitting the part I8, as described, two prongs 20 are formed. Theends 2| of the two prongs may be sharpened during the process ofmanufacture. The ends 2| of the U-shaped section 18 do not extendforwardly to vertical alinement with the web II. The whole of the U-shaped section l8, instead of being normal to the web, is at an angle ofeighty-six to eightyeight degrees thereto.

Sometimes the material intermediate to the prongs 20 which normally iscut away and removed from the clip, is converted in part into arearwardly extending prong 23 which has a sharpened end 24. The end 24is inserted into the material of a board forced against the clip 15.Normally the prong 23 as it extends rearwardly of the clip is bentslightly upwardly, as shown.

The clips 30 shown in Figures 6 and 7 are like those in the precedingfigures, save that they are intended for use with sidings or lap boards.Instead of having a hook member at one side and a prong-at the other,the clips 30 have two prongs 3i and 32 at one side and one prong 33 atthe other side. The prongs 3| and 32 are used in a board 36 which is ina higher elevation than a board 35 into which the prong 33 is inserted.The two prongs 3| and 32 are upon the upperside of the clip, and theprong 33 is at the lowerside of the clip 30.

For the type of clip used for floor boards, the channels ill are laidupon a sub-floor if the channels are not an integral part of thesubfloor or embedded in the sub-floor as a part of the constructionthereof. The form of clip shown in Figure 1 may be anchored in a cementsubfloor by first sinking or securing in the sub-floor cylinders 25 ofsoft metal and thereafter running screws 26 through apertures I4 in thechannels into said soft metal cylinders. Anchors comprising threadedmembers may be sunk in the concrete and the channels attached thereto bythe use of bolts.

On a wooden sub-floor, the anchoring means for the channels may comprisescrews run through the apertures It in channels I0 into the woodsub-floor or joists therebeneath. For a side wall, such as is shown inFigure 6, the channels are anchored in the studs or studding.

In Figures 1 and 7, the clips have cutout sec; tions 21 to make itpossible to slide the clips over protruding anchoring bolts or screws.The cutouts 21! are generally found unnecessary for the few bolts orscrews required to anchor the channel furnish no real interference inthe free distribution of the clips along the channels in suitablepositions.

The channels ill having been suitably anchored, a first board 28 is laidand secured in position across the channels, either by nailing or by anyother means. The groove side of the board is disposed at the edge of thearea to be floored. As shown in Figure 3, the tongue side of a board 28is exposed to be matched with the next succeeding board 29, just as inconventional floor boards that are nailed.

In respect to the sidings as shown in Figure 6, the first board laid isa bottom board 35 and its narrow edge is pointed upwardly just as inconventional carpentry.

Board 28 or board 35 will extend across two or more channels II). Inchannels l0, clips l5 or 30 will be inserted as is proper. Duringinsertion, the clips will be held in an angular position and run as farhome along the channel it) as is possible with the fingers. One edge ofthe channel I 0 will engage the edge of the board. The angle of the clipIS in the channel i0 when measured relatively to the adjacent edge ofthe board which it contacts, will be approximately fifteen to twentydegrees. When desired, the clip may be driven to a position ofparallelism with the board which it abuts by a hand tool which rides onthe channel ill and which is guided by the edges of the flanges I3. Sucha tool has a suitably shaped head to force the clip In to a positionnormal of the channel with the web ll parallel to the edge of the boardagainst which it is driven. Such hand tool is driven by a hammer orfloor layers hatchet. A machine may be used for the same purpose as thehand tool, and such machine tool has a head like that on the hand tooland forces the clip into position in the channel in the same manner. Forrapid laying, however, neither a hand tool nor a magazine tool isnecessary.

The next succeeding board may be used to drive a clip or clips home.This would be floor board 29 or siding 36. Such succeeding board isbrought into contact with the clip or clips by riding the board flatlyalong the channels in a direction parallel thereto, the edge of theboard 23 or 33 being parallel to the edge of board 23 or 33. With a fewblows of the hand axe, the carpenter or floor layer may drive the outerboard 23 or 33 against the clips, making the clips lie parallel with theboard 23 or to be held thereby.

If there is no rearwardly extending prong 23 or 33 upon the clip, thenthe board 23 or 36 used as a driver may be the next board to be laid,-orit may become a driving tool and be used continually until it ismutilated or otherwise damaged beyond use for efficiently laying thefloor.

With the clap boards and with the clip for floor boards which has prong23 at its rear, the driving board 36 or 23, must be positioned morecarefully for it becomes firmly seated in position when it is used todrive the first laid board, 35 or 28, into position. The prongs in therear of the clip become firmly embedded.

Whether the clip I5 for floor boards is driven into position by a handtool or by a machine tool, or by a board, it is forced into normalismwith the channel. The end margins of the section I 6 of the clip or thewhole section I6 is deformed, as shown in an exaggerated manner inFigure 5. As the clip at section It is wider than the channel ID, themetal of section I6 is bowed with the ends'of the bow dragging in thechannel I and providing opposed teeth biting into the material of thesides l2 of the channel to prevent retraction of the clip after thedriving force has been removed. There is no opportunity for the clip l5or 80 to move or be moved backwardly after it has once been driven home.The boards, 28 and 29 or 35 and 36, do not in any way influence thedeformation of section I 6 of a clip for they do not contact this partof the clip. The clip will be driven home in an upright position, thefeet I9 preventing any material tilting of the clip during the earlypart of its movement and the boards themselves preventing tilting duringthe latter stages of advancement.

The under face of the groove of a floor board engages the underside ofthe U-shaped section of the clip as the board drives a clip home. Thisengagement tilts the U-shaped section II of the clip and causes theprong 20 of the clip to bite into the upper side of the tongue of theboard 28. As the clip is moved more closely toward the board 28 to whichit is being attached, the rear prong 23, if there is one, penetrates thematerial of the board 29. This penetration tilts the U-shaped section toa larger degree and causes the pointed ends 2i of the prongs 20 to biteinto the top of the tongue of the board 28 more deeply. Without the rearprong 23, there is nevertheless, a deep bite into the tongue of theboard 28. This bite is augmented by the upper face of the groove ridingon the top of the U-shaped section l8 of the clip to press such sectiondownwardly and into the material of the tongue.

As floor boards are milled at the present time, the section above thetongue and above the groove of the boards 28 and 29, project outwardlybeyond the vertical faces of the boards below the tongue and the groove.Usually there is one .thirty-second of an inch difference between thetop and bottom vertical faces of boards on both the tongue and thegroove side. Paired boards then have a clearance below the tongue andgroove of a sixteenth of an inch. The web ll of clip 15 readily fitsthereinto.

The clip generally is made of material of twenty gauge, sometimes less.I'heclip at its U-shaped section II is embedded in the tongue and in theface of the groove of the boards 23 and 23, such embedment is hadwithout splitting the boards or causing appreciable topsurfacedeformation. This is true in the hardwoods such as maple and oak. Withpine and fir and the other soft woods, the clips bury themselves morereadily. The back section of the groove of a floor board invariably isdeeper than it need be so that a part of the U-shaped section II of theclip is seated in board 23 without engagement upon the rear surface ofthe groove.

The height of section [3 'of the clip I! is such that the clip may notbe lifted vertically in the channel, hence a board to which clips I3 isattached is held firmly upon the channel III and does not and cannotspring therefrom.

With the clips that are used for clap boards, 35 and 38,. the action ofthe clip is much the same as that of floor board clips. The clips" areforced into the lower board 35, the prong 32 being bent downwardly todraw the board toward the channel. The two prongs 3| and 32 of the. clip30 in" a similar manner draw the upperboard 35 inwardly so that theoverlapping sections of the boards, 35 and 36 are in close engagement.

In the several arrangements illustrated, there is a firm interlockbetween the channel and clips, and the union between the boards and theintermediate clips to hold the boards on channels I0 is firmer than canpossibly be attained by any construction in which nails are employed.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. For use with conventional floor boards of the tongue and groove type,a clip seatable between such boards and extending around the tonguethereof; a channel to receive said clip and secure it againstretroactive movement and meansassociated with said clip means formaintaining the clip substantially perpendicular to the surface of thetive position.

2. In combination, a channel, a clip having a deformable top and adeformable bottom, the bottom of the clip being movable in one directionin the channel and being locked against retroactive movement, the clipbeing insertable between conventional tongue and groove floor boardswithout disturbing the close match of the upper contiguous edgesthereof.

3. In combination, a channel, a clip in said channel, the clip having abase deformable in said channel to prevent retroactive movement of saidclip, and boards on said channels and of a conventional type and fittingsnugly about the clip to be held upon said channel thereby.

4. In combination, floor boards, a channel, and a clip, the clip beinglocked in said channel against retroactive movement and extendingbetween contiguous floor boards on said channel, a part of said clipbeing shaped for extension about the tongue of one floor board andhaving a barb penetrating the material of a board paired with said firstreferred to floor board.

5. In combination, a channel, a clip in said channel and deformable forlocking therein, and floor boards on said channels, the clip extendingbetween said boards and being deformed about the tongue of one board andhaving a barb penetrating the material of the board paired floor boardswhen in operatherewith.

6. A clip for holding tongue and groove boards comprising a strip ofmetal 01a thickness admitting of its insertion between closely matchedboards without spacing the top edges of said boards apart, the lowerpart of said clip having anchoring means and the upper part of said cliphaving a deformable hook for extending about the tongue portion of oneboard, and a barb for penetrating the material of the complementalboard.

7. In combination, a channel, and clips for insertion between boards onsaid channel, the clip having a section wider than the-interior of saidchannel and deformable therein to hold said clip normal to said channel,said deformable section of the clip having an extension preventing theclip from tilting in said channel.

8. For use in a channel having flanges and for holding boards upon suchchannel, a clip comprising a body extending vertically from the channel,said clip having a section wider than said channel with projections atthe bottom thereof, said section being of a height to snugly fit underthe flanges of said channel, the projections on said section preventingthe clip from upsetting in said channel, the upper part of the cliphaving board holding parts, and said clip being deformable to a positionnormal of said channel to anchor said clip against movement along saidchannel.

9. An anchoring clip for use between the edges of boards and comprisinga base having a board holding section projecting perpendicularly there-.

from. the upper part thereof engaging the contiguous edges of adjacentboards, there being a barb extending from said upper part forpenetrating one of said boards.

10. A board holding clip in combination wit a channel member andcomprising a base disposed in said channel member and normally widerthan the channel of said member, and means preventing the upsetting ofsaid clip in said channel member.

11. A channel member, and a board holding clip disposable betweencontiguous boards and comprising a body wider than and locked in saidchannel and having a barb i'or penetrating one of said boards.

12. A board holding clip comprising a horizontal base, and a verticalsection having an upper body-comprising a curved tongue projectingsubstantially horizontally from said vertical section.

13. The combination of a clip and a channel member for holding boards orthe like, and comprising a flanged channel of predetermined width, and aclip with a hook like top of slightly greater width at its channelengaging part whereby a part 01' the material of said clip is deformedwhen arranged transversely of said channel.

14. A board holding clip comprising a base section, and a body having asection adapted to engage a board, the base section of said clip havingsections extending oppositely and lat erally therefrom to provide feettherefor.

' LEON F. URBAIN.

